The KSU Tusc baseball team won their second straight game in a wonderfully mastered comeback win over visiting Penn State Fayette at Tuscora Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Golden Eagles never led until taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning to down the Lions 13-12 with some timely hitting.
PSU Fayette took a 3-0 in the top of the first inning on the strength of a three-run homerun to left center field. They added three more tallies in the fourth to take a seemingly commanding 6-0 lead over the navy and gold.
Finally, the Eagles scored a pair of runs on a Charlie Drumm line drive single to left field. His sharply hit ball scored Caleb Campbell and Brandon Troyer who led off the inning with a walk and hit-by-pitch and the Eagles trailed 6-2.
Things really looked bleak when the Lions roared back with six runs in the sixth inning to leap out to a 12-2 lead. They commanded attention with their third homer of the day, to go along with a pair of doubles, two singles a walk and a hit batsmen.
In the bottom of the inning however, the Golden Eagles scored nine times with some timely hitting of their own. They manufactured runs via five walks, five singles, two extra base hits and a fielder's choice.
Cole Lancaster and Steve Michniak both drew free passes to start the uprising, followed by an Evan Klar single to load the bases with nobody out. Campbell then singled to bring home Lancaster, before a Troyer fielder's choice brought in Michniak as the Eagles drew closer (12-4). Troyer took second on a steal and Cooper Dailey walked to fill the bases once again.
Blake Alexander then powered a double into left field to score Klar and Troyer to trim the Lions lead in half. Drumm stepped to the plate and promptly singled to center field to score Dailey and Alexander as Drumm held on at first with one out and the score stood 12-8. Sebastian Hanlin then smacked a double into left as Drumm moved to third.
Lancaster came to the plate for the second time in the inning and was walked again to load the bases. Michniak then singled to left to score Drumm as the lead closed to 12-9. Following a strikeout, Campbell drew a bases loaded walk to force home another run and the score was 12-10. Troyer then singled to center to score Lancaster to make the score 12-11 before the side was retired on a strikeout as the Eagles left three runners stranded.
The Lions squandered a lead off double in the top of the seventh, as both teams then went quietly in the seventh and top of the eighth innings. In the bottom of the eighth, the Eagles got back-to-back safeties from Lancaster and Michniak to start the inning. Lancaster moved to third as Michniak's single was hit behind the runner into right field. After a strikeout, Campbell hit a hard ground ball back to the pitcher and beat the throw to first as Lancaster crossed the plate for the tying run and Michniak took third. Troyer hit a deep ground ball to second base which forced the second baseman to throw to first as Michniak scored what would be the winning run of the game.
In the top of the ninth, Michniak, who threw three innings of relief got the first two batters out on ground balls. A single and a walk put a potential tying run on second, but the game was ended as Dailey caught a lazy fly ball to right field for the final out.
Over three innings Michniak did not allow a run, surrendered just two hits, had two strikeouts and a walk. He helped his own cause at the plate going 2/2 with a pair of singles and RBI and scored two runs.
Drumm and Campbell led the Eagles with 3/5 days as both hit three singles, while Drumm had four RBIs and Campbell knocked home three runners. Alexander had a double to score two Eagles and Hanlin had the only other extra base hit. Troyer scored twice and also accounted for three RBIs.
With the win, the Eagles now stand at 2-4 on the season and will travel to Hiram on Thursday, April 20 for a single 9-inning game starting at 4PM.
Sebastian Hanlin tags out a Lions runner at third base and had a double in the game at Tuscora Park.
Brandon Troyer slides under the tag at home and winning pitcher Steve Michniak makes a delivery to the plate.
Charlie Drumm collects one of his three hits and calls himself safe after stealing second base.
(Photos by Rob Brindley)